Syllabus
Television Production I
2011-2012
Gary Hawke, Instructor
Expectations: It is important each student realize the opportunity they have been offered as a
result of their enrollment at Monroe Technology Center and Video Production, specifically. The
taxpayers of Loudoun County have invested a great deal of money and interest in providing a
unique learning experience, designed to give you a genuine advantage in later employment and
lifetime achievement. You have been selected for this privilege, in competition with all other
Loudoun County Public Schools students. It’s important that you make the best of this
opportunity. The Television Production program requires hard work, reliability, dedication and
team cooperation. MTC is not a “time out” from school, nor is it an escape from academic rigor.
In order to do well, you will have to work very hard. The program will offer you great skills and
quality contacts in the industry but your success will be directly related to your efforts. You are
expected to perform at the highest level and to behave in an adult, professional manner at all
times.
Students will be expected to learn: Safety in using equipment, professional conduct,
knowledge of the industry, history of technology, news gathering and reporting, proper use of
recording, editing and playback equipment including lighting, basic writing and interviewing
techniques, production site survey, production needs for audio and video, basic storytelling, basic
editing concepts and production of various program elements, plus demonstrate an
understanding of the business aspects that govern video production and distribution. Students
will be required to broaden their understanding of the financial factors relating to the business,
including labor and basic media law.
Time is basic to video production: Time is a major controlling factor in all forms of video
production. Students must be prepared to be on time to class and meet periodic deadlines for
class projects. Failure to meet deadlines will have significant negative influence on grades.
“Good and on time is better than great and late”.
Professional performance: This course is designed to prepare you for employment in the
video production industry. You will be taught proper methods of handling equipment, working as
a team, time constraints, and quality of production. It is important to understand the
professional standards that will be required to succeed in the class.
Team performance: The video production industry exists through team efforts. It is important
to learn how to participate in a team, encourage and respect all team members input, be
responsible to the team, be able to react to unforeseen circumstances, and to evaluate your
performance. All students will have individual and team assignments. Sometimes team make up
may be challenging but each student must deal it with. All students on a team will be
responsible for team performance; however, the instructor may choose to reward certain
individuals on a team over other team members for obvious non-performance of a team member.
Evaluation: There are two means of evaluation for both Production I and II. The
Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Education has listed a series of Competency-Based
Task that all students must learn to successfully complete the courses. Each student will have
his/her personal competency notebook, which will contain all the competencies required for their
particular class. The instructor will sign off on each competency successfully demonstrated. All
students should expect to pass all competencies listed for their class by the end of the school
year. It is each student’s responsibility to obtain the instructors “sign-off” of these competencies
and maintain the integrity of their Competency Notebook.
In addition to the above, a letter grade will be given each student as his or her earned
achievement for the class. The grade will be determined by a total of 1000 possible points for
the course. Letter grades will reflect the standard grading scale for Loudoun County Public
Schools based on a 0-100 scale.
Class participation: Participating in class discussions and evaluations are a critical part of your
success in this course. Each student will be responsible to join in class discussions, present the
results of various homework assignments, work as crewmembers for other classmates and
evaluate the performance of other students.
Methods of Evaluation
You are attempting to create a finished product that could go directly to air. You will be given
several projects to complete (listed below) and be asked to serve as crew for other class
projects. You will be evaluated on individual work, team projects and your cooperation on both.
Projects
Introductory :60 I.D. (Individual). As a first project you will video landscape-type campus shots
and edit them into a :60 campus I.D. You will add station identification graphics and music.
These will be critiqued and returned. You will rework the project and submit a final edition.
Points 50
Several Minor Projects (Individual). As a crewmember for somebody else or for an assigned
project you will be required to work two different projects during the semester. The instructor
will approve these.
Points 300
Major Project. One major production for which you will serve as the entire production team. You
may get help for talent. This must be re-approved by the instructor. A full explanation of the
project is attached.
Points 100
Quizzes
Quizzes will reflect lecture presentations, the text and lab assignments
Points 50
Professionalism
All class members will begin with 100 Professionalism points and points will be deducted for
unprofessional behavior. These include, but are not limited to, punctuality, accountability,
teamwork, respect for equipment, respect for classmates and faculty, etc. In addition, class
members will be required to select one company to follow as a business exercise. You will also
be required to prepare daily current event and production information searches.
Points 200
Class Participation
It’s important that we hear from you in class. We will critique many projects and ask for your
input on many topics. You will help teach others and make presentations to the class.
Points 200
Total 1000 Points
Schedule for 1st 9 Weeks:
Week # 1
Introduction to the Industry
Safety issues
Basic tools of the trade
Employment possibilities
Personal inventory
Week # 2
Types of video production
The electronic media
Storytelling
Basic writing
Week # 3
Basic audio
The studio
The remote production
Week # 4
Elements of a production
Basic video
Basic camera recording project
Week # 5
First camera recording project
Camera operation
Week # 6
Basic lighting
Writing assignment
The control room
Week# 7
basic editing
Production prep
Week # 8
News production
News project
Introduce major project
Week # 9
Evaluate news production
Review
Quiz
Policy on Plagiarism and Fabrication/Falsification -- This language is designed to
complement the Academic Misconduct language already in your syllabus.
As part of the Loudoun County Public Schools and C.S. Monroe Technical Center, the Television
Production classes do not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication of evidence and falsification of
evidence.
Penalties for plagiarism, fabrication or falsification can include a failing grade for this course.
If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, please
consult the teacher of this course.
Plagiarism
Knowingly presenting the work of another as one's own (i.e., without proper
acknowledgement of the source). The sole exception to the requirement of
acknowledging sources is when the information or ideas are common knowledge.
Fabrication and Falsification
Unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic
exercise.
VIDEO PRODUCTION I
Major Project
Scope
The major product is an entire program or event prepared for airing. It includes the entire
finished project. That means any titles, editing, timing, slates, etc. The project is not complete
until you have delivered a completed DVD, ready to air.
Examples of the project include: lecture series (more than one), special program, school profile
piece, special school project (with another class), series of PSA’s, discussion program, or
SkillsUSA formatted project, etc.
Projects will be proposed to the instructor and approved prior to production. Should
circumstances require a change in the project, instructor approval must be secured.
There will be periodic reporting on the progress of the project. This must be an original
production and cannot be something used for another purpose. This is your material, produced,
edited and directed by you.
Your project is due and will be screened by the class on the final week of instruction in the class.
An exact date and time will be given to you well in advance. Failure to meet the
deadline will require a minimum of 33% deduction in earned points.
Classroom Notebook
You will be creating a notebook to serve as a toolbox for all handouts, assignments, returned
quizzes, and other written material. The notebook will help you to organize, keep you on
schedule, and serve as a resource for review. A three-ring binder will be provided to you as your
own notebook. It must not leave the classroom, unless I instruct you otherwise. Your notebook
will contain:
1. Organizational dividers
2. Handouts and homework assignments
3. Returned quizzes and tests
4. Scripts, production sch3dules, score sheets, etc. associated with your productions
5. Class hand-outs
6. Your business section
These notebooks will be kept on a shelf in the classroom and graded periodically. Some
evaluations for grading will be unannounced. I will provide additional information on the
notebook during the class. This notebook will be worth 100 points (10% of the class grade).